Wash-bench



(No Model.)

0. SHEPARDSON.

WASH BENCH.

No. 359,035. Patented Mar. 8,1887.

INVENTOR: (2@5 /MM/-.

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67, ffl" BY Mm L M ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS SHEPARDSON, OF STUBGIS, MICHIGAN.

WASH-BENCH.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,035, dated March 8,1887.

Applicntitn filed July '7, 1886. Serial No. 207,958. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Orrs SHEPARDSON, of Sturgis, in the county of St.Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved\Vash-Bench, of which the following is .a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a wash-bench, and has for its object theproduction of a cheap, useful, and effective article for household use.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure ,1 is a perspective view of my washbench extended for washing.Fig. 2 shows my improved bench in side elevation when folded for use asa wringer-support only, a wringer being shown attached thereto. Fig. 3is a perspective view of a bracket employed, illustrating theattachment.

Two main standards, A A, each consisting of a continuous piece, slottedat their upper ends to receive the mechanism of a wringer, and heldtogether by round braces a a, form the centralsupport of mycombinedwash-bench and wringer when folded out, as shown in Fig. 1. Uponthe opposite edges of each of these main standards A A, at a suitabledistance from the floor, are secured, through their rear sides, twometal brackets, I) Z), cast with extended sides or wings continuous withthe back, and pivoted within these brackets thus placed on each side ofthe main standards A, through their wings, are longitudinal bars B 13,whose inner ends are beveled to admit of folding up parallel with themain standards A, when desired, and partially beveled upon their outerends to clear the floor when thus folded up, and rest upon the smallflat space left thereon, as seen in Fig. 2.

Short standards G G are pivoted to the longitudinal bars 13 B, neartheir outer ends, by means of round braces passing through from side toside, and another set of round braces, d d, unite and strengthen thesaid short standards C G O 0 near the bottom. These short standards formthe legs or supports for the longitudinal bars B B when folded down, andtogether constitute a bench for a wash-tub each side of the mainstandards A, as shownin Fig. 1. The main standards A A, the longitudinalbars B B, and the short standards 0 0 form the frame of my wash-bench.

Upon the round bracebar a of the main standard A are pivoted centrallytwo longitudinal stretchers, e 6, whose outer ends are grooved out tofit and bear against the round braces d d of the short standards 0 0,thereby stiffening the entire frame and preventing the said shortstandards from folding up when in use as legs for the benches.

Upon the upper outside edge of the short standards 0 G and fastenedthereto are metal stops it, which, curving inwardly and up with moreorless of a twist, form a hearing or support for the projecting ends ofthe longitudinal bars B B when the benches arein position, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, and astop adapted to space the short standards 0 O andthe main standards A when the bench is folded, as shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to fold the wash-bench up to use the wringer alone orplace it away, the stretchers c e are lifted up out of engage ment withthe round braces 01 d, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the shortstandards G O are drawn under and up to a position beneath the recessedbrackets b 1), thereby bringing thelongitudinal bars 13 Bin averticalposition parallel with the main standards A, which are elevated from thefloor simultaneously with the said adjustment, the said longitudinalbars being thereby converted into legs or supports for the entire frame.The main standards A, carrying the wriuger, are held .in an elevatedposition by the recessed brackets b b, and the wash-benches are retainedin a folded position by means of hooks attached to the edges of theshort standards 0', engaging with eyes secured in the edges of thecorresponding short standards C, as illustrated in Fig. 2. My wash-benchthus folded is self-supporting, and stands so firm upon its support thatthe wringer may be used alone with perfect ease.

If desirable to use but one tub, the washbench not in use may be foldedup out of the ICO way. The main standards A will then rest upon thefloor and the folded bench at a slight angle against it.

In the operationofmyinvention when folded, as in Fig. 2, the hooks areunfastened and the short standards 0 0 carried down toward the floor,which movement presses the bars 13 B outward, allowing the mainstandards to rest upon their lower ends, the short standards beingcarried forward until they also rest upon the floor, causing the bars 13B to assume a longitudinal position. The stretchers e e are then broughtinto engagement with the round braces d d, and a bench is formed uponeach side of the main standards A A adapted to hold a tub or tubs.

I am aware that wash-benches have heretofore been constructed to holdawash-tub upon each side of a central standard carrying a wringer,andthe device capable of being folded against the main standards when notin use, and I do not broadly claim such as my inven tion.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination,with the main standards A, slotted to carry a wringer and provided withrecessed brackets b I), attached at the edges below the center thereof,and a transverse bottom brace, a, having pivoted thereon oppositely andcentrally extending longitudinal braces e e, of the longitudinal bars BB, pivoted in said recessed brackets, having outwardly projectingbeveled ends, the short standards 0 0, provided with bottom braces,

d d, and upwardly and inwardly extending stops t, attached to theirupper outer edge, adapted to support the projecting ends of the saidbars B B when the bench is open and constitute spacing-blocks when saidbench is folded, and devices for locking the standards when the bench isfolded, substantially as shown and described.

OTIS SHEPARDSON. Vitncsses:

CATHERAINE SHEPARDSON, Mrs. G. F. PHARIS.

